Lady Gaga-Born This Way

Lady Gaga (2011). Born this way [CD]. Los Angeles, CA: Interscope Records. ASIN: B004K4AVAG

Summary

Born This Way is another installment to keep Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters jumping on the dance floor. Its play list includes “Marry the Night,” “Born This Way,” “Government Hooker,” “Judas,” “Americano,” “Hair,” “Scheibe,” “Bloody Mary,” “Bad Kids,” “Highway Unicorn,” “Heavy Metal Lover,” “Electric Chapel,” “You and I,” and “The Edge of Glory.” Her single, “You and I,” earned her a 2012 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance and the album is nominated for Album of the Year.

Critical Evaluation

Lady Gaga was born Stefani Germanotta on March 28, 1986 in Yonkers, New York. She attended private all-girl Catholic school in Manhattan, Convent of the Sacred Heart, and then began studying music at New York University at age 17. She was influenced by David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, and her stage name is drawn from “Radio Ga-Ga,” a Queen song. Other influences are Madonna and Michael Jackson. These influences are apparent in her songs, which have been described as pop and dance with theatrical performances. Her songs often have controversial messages.

 

Lady Gaga launched onto the music scene in 2008 with her debut album The Fame. Her song, “Born This Way,” promotes self-acceptance regardless of race or sexual orientation. Her vocals are expressive and emotional, and many lyrics have themes dealing with love, sex, sexuality, materialism, money, drugs, religion, freedom, and individualism.

 

Information about Lady Gaga was obtained through Wikipedia.

Genre

Music

Pop

Dance

Why did I include this title?

Lady Gaga is fascinating. I didn’t know much about her before researching for this blog entry. She is hard to miss, though, with her outlandish costumes. Her music is fun to listen to and she is entertaining to watch.

Skrillex-Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

Skrillex, (2010). Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites [CD]. Big Beats Records/Atlantic. 43:50mins. ASIN: B004GGM444

Summary

Skrillex, known as Sonny Moore, has recently won a Grammy Award 2012 nomination for Best New Artist. This album’s playlist has nine songs: “Rock ‘n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain),” “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” “Kill Everybody,” “All I Ask of You (featuring Penny),” “Scatta (featuring Foreign Beggars & Bare Noize),” “With You, Friends (Long Drive),” and then two remixes of “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” as well as one of “Kill Everybody.” This is the first Skrillex release on Big Beat Records, in conjunction with fellow electronic revolutionary Deadmau5’s freshly minted Mau5trap record label. (http://www.skrillex.com/bio/)

Critical Evaluation

 

Dubstep is a genre of electronic music gaining fast popularity. In iTunes, a review written by Unmedicated Eddie explains: “Skrillex has it down. This is purposeful, dutiful music with an avant-garde twist—it does its job (it’s absolutely dance music) but at the same time it carries a strong sense of menace and a bass that flies at you and knocks you unconscious like a meteor to the forehead. But it’s this album’s philosophy that gives it its character. Sonny Boy’s brand of music is the soundtrack to a new revolution that’s as rock ‘n roll as any, and he knows it” (December 2010). Skrillex is making its place on the music scene. Its collaborations with other music artists is being enjoyed by fans and widening its audience. According to the artist’s website, Skrillex is part of a new generation of artists that refuse to be restricted by preconceived notions or outside expectations. “Genre has never been important to me,” he insists. “I’ve never thought about music that way.” (http://www.skrillex.com/bio/)

 

Genre

Music

Electronic

Dubstep

Dance

DJ

Why did I include this title?

I had not heard of dubstep music or of Skrillex, but when I heard about them from some teenagers and saw they were nominated for a Grammy, I had to check them out. I’m glad I did. While I have not purchased this album from iTunes because I want to see if my library has the CD, I plan to download some songs into my iPod. I’m interested to see what becomes of this genre of music.